Preview: National Cyclocross Championships for men 2024 – Which Lion will take the red-white-blue?

Without Mathieu van der Poel again, there is a unique opportunity during the Dutch cyclo-cross championship for the other Dutch top riders to win an iconic jersey this winter. While it would normally always be Lars van der Haar for the men, the tension will now be cut short on Sunday, January 14 at 3 p.m. CyclingFlits looks ahead!

History

Last ten winners National Cyclocross Championships, elite men
2023: Lars van der Haar
2022: Lars van der Haar
2021: No edition due to corona pandemic
2020: Mathieu van der Poel
2019: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Mathieu van der Poel
2017: Mathieu van der Poel
2016: Mathieu van der Poel
2015: Mathieu van der Poel
2014: Lars van der Haar
2013: Lars van der Haar

Last year

National Cyclocross Championships 2023 in Zaltbommel
Result men
Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) in 1h04m11s
Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) at 3s
Ryan Kamp (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) on 47s
4. Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) on 1m25s
5. Corné van Kessel (Deschacht-Hens-Maes) at 1m47s

Course

A versatile circuit has been set out on and around the grounds of Pavilion Nijstad, southwest of Hoogeveen, which will serve as the backdrop for the Cyclo-Cross National Championships this winter. The local – and also nationally known – cycling club De Peddelaars has drawn up the route, in which Jens Dekker is also closely involved. The former junior world champion did that about three years ago, when there was no talk of his comeback yet. So there was no need to benefit oneself. “I wanted to create a course where the public can see great competitions.”

That will remain to be seen, but all the ingredients are there. The start of the circuit is after the asphalt strip at the start-finish on meadow land. It will never be swampy there. Just after the first equipment station, a slightly longer climb begins, where riders can use their strength. This is followed by a short, technical one off camberdescent, until they end up on asphalt again. They drive in one long line to the northern part of the course, where they turn left into a recreational area. There, beach volleyball courts have been transformed into a real sandbox.

There is a bend there that may be just manageable. However, this is not a guaranteed running lane, despite the fact that the sand is loose. After some bends over grass and a path with tiles, the riders turn onto the beach at the Surfplas. The sand is hard and easy to drive on. Compare it a bit with the sand passage during the Zilvermeercross in Mol. This is followed by a slightly easier section on the outside of the course, where you can regain your strength. After the second material mail, the difficulties follow in rapid succession.

This starts with a bridge, shortly followed by a steep climb (to the same high point as where the long climb ends) and a short and technical descent. This is followed by another bridge, followed by a long northern loop where the beams will probably also be located. After the turning point they drive towards the pavilion, where the riders will ride across the terrace (on carpeted mats). Then they have a short beach passage. At the end there is a noise barrier, which they have to climb steeply up. They then drive about a hundred meters along that embankment. Finally, there is a short, technical descent and two crucial bends before the riders end up back on the asphalt towards the crossing and finish street.

The route has a few minor changes

Program and information

Program Sunday January 7, 2023
10.30 am: Junior women
12:00: Junior men
1.40 pm: Elite women + U23 women
3 p.m.: Elite men + U23 men

Location
Pavilion Nijstad, Koedijk 8, Hoogeveen

Public information
Entrance on the day of the Cyclo-cross National Championships is free all weekend.

Website organization
Elite men’s list of participants
Participant list of promises men

Favorites

Predicting a favorite for the Dutch cyclo-cross championship is not a difficult task. The National Championship has been taking place since 1960 and minus one year of corona (when it was canceled in 2021), our country has sixty editions. Yet there are only twenty different names that grace the honors list. Slokop is Hennie Stamsnijder, who won the red, white and blue no fewer than nine times. Very often the strongest Dutch cross rider also wins the National Championships. Only two cyclo-cross riders have divided the last ten editions. One is of course Mathieu van der Poel (six), who will not be there again after 2022 and 2023.

The other four editions were won by Lars van der Haar. Woudenberg’s terrier was immediately the best in the Netherlands upon its debut in 2013 and did so again a year later. MVDP was the best for six consecutive editions, but in the last two seasons the 32-year-old crosser from Baloise Trek Lions has returned to the red-white-blue. At the beginning of the winter, Van der Haar showed the best version of himself, his level seemed better than ever. But since his team training in December, his results have decreased slightly. Fixed depending on the important January month. Van der Haar always comes out on top at championships.

The course in Hoogeveen is lightning fast in dry weather or frost and that suits Van der Haar like no other. In that case, he has an advantage over his – now – two closest competitors, who benefit more from slower matches. Then it comes down to strength and with World Cup victories in Dendermonde and Dublin Pim Ronhaar see how to deal with that. The 22-year-old Hellendoorn from Baloise Trek Lions is the revelation of the season. In fact, since the European Championships in Pontchâteau at the beginning of November, he has been reaching a very high level. Last week he finished second in Koksijde behind Van der Poel, but he managed to keep Wout van Aert behind him.

At the beginning of the cross winter of 2022-2023, decided Joris Nieuwenhuis to return to his roots. He surrendered his WorldTour contract with Team DSM and switched to – again – Baloise Trek Lions, the team of living legend Sven Nys. That choice has done the Zelhemmer (27) no harm. After a year of adjustment, this season shows that Nieuwenhuis made the right choice. He won two Superprestige rounds (Merksplas and Boom) and the former WorldTour professional also won the World Cup in Val di Sole. Recently he became behind MVDP still second in the World Cups of Hulst and Zonhoven. Will we get a full BTL stage?

That chance is high. Given the weather conditions, the course will lose some of its fast character, which means that Nieuwenhuis and Ronhaar can normally last longer with the more experienced Van der Haar. Hopefully so too Tibor Del Grosso to benefit. The 20-year-old Drent is sensitive to viruses and has already been very ill a few times this season. It only happened after Dublin and also after New Year’s Eve. As a result, he only rode six races, but won half of them – U23 cyclo-cross races, of course. And a cross rider needs that every now and then to master finishing a race. Due to illness, that has to be a bit of a wait and see.

Yet the youngster does have an advantage, for example Ryan Kamp. The 23-year-old cyclo-cross rider from Roosendaal has been riding as a one-man team since January 1, after his contract with Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal was not extended. Just like Van der Haar, Ronhaar and Nieuwenhuis, Kamp has already become world champion among the promises. Normally it performs best in heavy cross-country races, where the average speed is somewhat lower. In that respect, it is to be hoped for him – just like with Ronhaar and Nieuwenhuis – that the thaw will start soon. Because otherwise we will get a very fast cross in Hoogeveen, which will benefit Van der Haar and also the young Del Grosso, for example.

For the last star in this preview we can draw on three names. On a very good day, the podium is normally the highest achievable for them, winning seems a quasi-impossible task and would be a resounding surprise on Sunday. For Stan Godrie (30) it would even mean his first elite podium. Mees Hendrikx already succeeded in this two years ago in Rucphen. However, he has struggled since his switch to the elites, but who knows, he may be able to do something extra. Still, the choice for the last star was made Corne van Kessel (32). The Veldhoven resident has the best results this season.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Lars van der Haar
** Pim Ronhaar, Joris Nieuwenhuis
* Tibor Del Grosso, Ryan Kamp, Corné van Kessel

Weather and TV

According to Weatheronline the riders will have to deal with drizzly winter weather in Hoogeveen on Sunday. The temperature fluctuates around 4 degrees Celsius and the westerly wind (wind force 4) makes it feel like it is around freezing point. The chance of precipitation is above 80% all day, so it will be a very cold affair in Drenthe. The thaw and rain can result in a slide, which means it’s more about strength and technique than speed.

The Cyclo-Cross National Championships for women and men can be seen live in several ways. On the regional TV channel RTV Drenthe the live broadcast starts at 1.30 pm with the women and after that they remain there continuously. The NOS reports on both matches via a live stream in the app and online, while also Eurosport.nl in Discovery+ broadcast the cross. The national media also start broadcasting around 3 p.m.